News Today

It's showtime when Grossman's angry
MIAMI - SUPER Bowl XLI is a classic match-up of the Peyton Manning-led Colts scoring machine and a Bears defence that has long been the pride of Chicago gridiron fans. It is also time for Rex Grossman to make his critics... [Read more]

Philippines' anti-terror plan: 'Clear, hold and develop' Jolo
JOLO - A SMALL group of islands in the southernmost Philippines is providing the ideal conditions for testing a counter-terrorist strategy known as 'clear, hold and develop'. Around 5,000 Philippine marines and soldiers, supported by the US Special Forces, are clearing... [Read more]

What it should have been
In our report, 'Asean Music Festival in S'pore' yesterday, it was stated wrongly that the five-day event at the Hard Rock Cafe Singapore will coincide with the Asean Tourism Forum, which will be held in Singapore from Jan 29 next year.In... [Read more]

'Golden Pig' baby boom expected in parts of Asia
BEIJING - A BABY boom is about to hit parts of Asia, as couples try to ensure their newborns get a happy, wealthy life by starting off in the Year of the Pig.This Chinese New Year, which begins on Sunday, is... [Read more]

Barisan coasts to victory in Pahang by-election
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition retained a key state seat in a by-election yesterday, a victory seen as an early indication of support for Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's government ahead of a general election.BN's Abdul Aziz Kiram,... [Read more]

Wage doubling unlikely for Filipino maids here, say agents
A RECOMMENDATION by the Philippine government to set the monthly salary of Filipino maids overseas at US$400 (S$613) from March 1 is unlikely to have any impact in Singapore, maid agents here said. They generally make between $330 and $350 a... [Read more]

Homestays next to bring communities closer together?
IT BEGAN with visits to religious institutions. Then came Mandarin classes for the Malay-Muslim community. Now, a task force that is promoting greater interaction between communities is looking at homestay programmes. Details have yet to be worked out, but Senior Minister... [Read more]

McClaren in Becks U-turn?
LONDON - SIX weeks ago, David Beckham was dismissed as a 31-year-old has-been bound for a cushy retirement job in America. Now, he has been resurrected as the man who could rescue England.Even coach Steve McClaren admits he has to consider... [Read more]

URA puts up site near Dhoby Ghaut station for sale
A SLIVER of land at Handy Road not much bigger than half a football pitch will further test the strength of the recovery of properties in the Orchard Road area. The 3,584 sq m site is next to Frasers Centrepoint's 8... [Read more]

S'porean puts his bet on Johor biofuel plant
SINCE August last year, a Singaporean-owned biodiesel plant in Johor has been making 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes of the green fuel a month.In the next six months or so, Vance Bioenergy's plant in Pasir Gudang will treble its output. 'We have... [Read more]

Enjoy the Chinese New Year shopping...
SOMEONE has 'received' a $1,000 hongbao ahead of Chinese New Year - and police would like to know who that pickpocket is. The victim, a festive shopper outside People's Park Complex, was about to pay a vendor at about 5pm on... [Read more]